Dempsey's first goal allows Fulham to draw 1-1 with Rovers.

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)SoccerTimes

(Thursday, September 23, 2010) -- United States attacker Clint Dempsey notched his first goal of the season Saturday and it ended up earning Fulham an important point in the English Premier League standings.

Against host Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, Fulham fell behind on a goal from Christopher Samba on the half hour. Then in the 56th minute, defender Carlos Salcido brought the ball down the right side and floated a cross toward the far post. Dempsey outran defender Ryan Nelsen to the ball to hit a powerful header that easily beat goalkeeper Paul Robinson for the equalizer in the 1-1 match.

For the second match in a row, Dempsey yielded to fellow American striker Eddie Johnson, this time in the 78th minute.

The match proved costly to Fulham with forward Bobby Zamora suffering a broken leg. The injury should ensure Dempsey more playing time.

Fulham is in a five-way tie for sixth place at seven points, undefeated at 1-0-4.

On Tuesday, Dempsey went the distance and Johnson played the final half hour in a 2-0 loss to Stoke City (17th in the Premier League) in the third round of the Carling Cup. Dempsey, who played on the front line in place of the injured Zamora, had a golden opportunity in the second half because of a goalkeeping error, but sent his shot over the crossbar.

U.S. keeper Tim Howard played well for lagging Everton and made four saves, but it was not enough in a 1-0 loss to visiting Newcastle United. The Toffees are in 19th place after managing two points (0-3-2) in its first five outings

Everton backup keeper Jan Mucha was in goal Tuesday when Everton fell to League One (third tier) Brentford 5-4 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie through 120 minutes in a third-round Carling Cup match.

U.S. keeper Marcus Hahnemann had a nightmare day Saturday, giving up three late goals in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur. He made five good saves in a physical match that saw him draw a yellow card.

Spurs began their comeback, scoring with a penalty kick by Rafael Van der Vaart for a 1-1 tie in the 72nd minute. Things fell apart for Wolves late with Spurs goals from Roman Pavlyuchenko in the 87th minute on a deflection that fell to Pavlyuchenko who put away a tap-in and on a Alan Hutton tally in stoppage time.

On Tuesday, Hahnemann was on the bench as Wolves heavily used reserves in defeating Notts County of League One 4-2 in overtime in a Carling Cup match.

American keeper Brad Friedel was sharp, making four saves for Aston Villa in a 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers Saturday. As usual, American Brad Guzan was his backup on the bench, while American defender Eric Lichaj did not dress for Villa.

U.S. midfielder Stuart Holden went the full 90 minutes for Bolton.

Holden was not dressed for Bolton when it fell 1-0 at Burnley of the second-division English League Championship in Carling Cup action Tuesday.

In a Wednesday Cup match, Guzan was in goal and Lichaj on the back-line for Villa which defeated Premier League rival Blackburn Rovers 3-1 at Villa Park. After making several good saves early, Guzan gave up a goal to Gael Givet for a 1-0 Rovers lead on a long shot in the 34th minute.

Emile Heskey tied the game for Villa in the 59th minute before Ashley Young won the game with strikes in the 75th and 77th minutes.

U.S. defender Jonathan Spector did not dress for West Ham United in a 1-1 draw Saturday with Stoke City. Spector was on the bench when West Ham defeated Sunderland 2-1 Tuesday in the Carling Cup.

No American saw action last weekend in the League Championship. Striker Mike Grella did not dress for Leeds United in a 0-0 draw with Doncaster Rovers Friday. Injured defender Zak Whitbread did not dress for Norwich City in its 1-0 victory over Preston North End Saturday. Teen-aged defender Conor Doyle dressed, but did not play for Derby County in a 1-1 draw with Barnsley Saturday.

In League One, American defender Frank Simek went the distance and received a yellow card for Carlisle United in a 0-0 draw with Brighton Saturday.

Anton Peterlin dressed, but did not play for Plymouth Argyle in its 3-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday Saturday.

In Scotland, U.S. midfielder Maurice Edu started and played 70 minutes for Glasgow Rangers, who blanked Dundee United 4-0 Saturday. On Tuesday, he was rested and Rangers easily defeated Dunfermline 7-2 in Scottish Cup action.

In the German Bundesliga, two Americans were on the field for Hannover 96, which lost to VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 Saturday. U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo played 90 minutes while midfielder DaMarcus Beasley came off the bench for the final 13 minutes.

Media reports persist that Wolfsburg has offered a contract to out-of-work defender Jay DeMerit, who has also been linked to a move to Major League Soccer and the new Vancouver franchise which will join the league next season.

On Tuesday, Cherundolo again went the distance in a 4-1 triumph over Werder Bremen. Beasley was dressed, but didn't play for Hannover.

Saturday was another disastrous day for Borussia Mönchengladbach, which suffered a 7-0 road loss at VfB Stuttgart Saturday. U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley played 90 minutes for Gladbach.

At home Wedneday, Gladbach looked better, but still fell 2-1 to St, Pauli on a late penalty kick. Bradley again went the distance.

Three other Americans dressed, but did not play on the weekend -- midfielder Jermaine Jones for Schalke 04 in a 3-1 loss Sunday to Borussia Dortmund, midfielder Ricardo Clark for Eintracht Frankfurt in its 1-0 loss to SC Freiburg Friday and midfielder\defender Daniel Williams of Freiburg.

On Wednesday, Clark came on in the 76th minute for Frankfurt in a 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen.

On Wednesday, Jones went the distance for Schalke, which downed Freiburg 2-1.

In the 2.Bundesliga last weekend, American keeper David Yelldell made one save for MSV Duisburg's in its 1-1 draw Sunday with FC Erzgebirge Aue.

Luis Robles was the backup keeper for Karlsruhe, which defeated SC Paderborn 07 2-1 on Saturday.

In France, U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra went the distance for St Etienne in its 3-0 victory over Montpellier Saturday. On Wednesday, he remained on the bench in a 2-0 defeat of St. Etienne in the French Cup quarterfinals.

In Spain, U.S. striker Jozy Altidore dressed, but did not play for Villarreal in its 2-1 decision Sunday over Levante.

In Italy, U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu did not dress for AC Milan's , which drew 1-1 with Catania Saturday. On Wednesday, he did not travel with the team to Lazio.

In Greece, U.S> midfielder Freddy Adu did not dress for Aris Thessaloniki in a 1-0 loss to Panionios on Sunday.

In Belgium, U.S> midfielder Sacha Kljestan did not dress for RSC Anderlecht, which won 3-0 Sunday over Kortrijk. He also did not dress in Anderlecht's 1-1 draw Wednesday with Lierse SK.

In the Denmark Superliga, U.S. defender Michael Parkhurst has recovered from injury and was dressed, but did not play for FC Nordsjaelland, which fell 2-0 to Lyngby on Monday.

In the second-tier Viasat Division, U.S. midfielder Benny Feilhaber went the distance and scored on a penalty kick for AGF Aarhus in a 1-1 draw with Hobro on Sunday.

In Sweden, American midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and Ryan Miller each played 90 minutes for Orebro SK's 1-1 draw Sunday with Halmstads BK. Bedoya received a yellow card.

In Norway, American defender Clarence Goodson played 90 minutes and scored a goal for IK Start in a 4-2 win Sunday over Stromsgodset. American defender Hunter Freeman also went the distance for Start.

American midfielder Mikkel Diskerud played 90 minutes for Stabaek IF's, which dropped a 3-0 decision Sunday to Odd Grenland.

American keeper Steve Clark dressed, but did not play for Honefoss BK in a 1-0 loss Sunday to Molde.